Conservative or Liberal, Deist or Pagan, Jersey transplant or Lehigh Valley native, we're all in this mess together. Let's talk. Let us do no harm. Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne

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Monday, February 02, 2009

Muhlenberg College Dems Like D'Amore & Schlossberg, But Not Howells

Muhlenberg College Democrats today endorsed Mike D'Amore and Mike Schlossberg for Allentown City Council. "D'Amore is the current President of the City Council and has been a consistent voice for young voters throughout the City. Schlossberg, a Muhlenberg alumnus from the Class of 2005, would be the youngest member of the City's legislative body." Mike D'Amore, along with Democrats Julio Guridy and David Howells, is up for reelection. Recent Republican Tony Phillips is vacating his council seat to run for Mayor.

College Democrats Co-President Adrian Shanker states "Muhlenberg Students need a City Council committed to community development, specifically in the 19th street area; continuing to reduce crime city wide; and continuing to develop cultural opportunities throughout the city. [Is that a sentence? I hate semicolons.] We are confident that the leadership we need will come from D'Amore and Schlossberg's voices on City Council."

The College Democrats are also hoping to unseat long-serving David Howells, whom they label a "conservative Democrat." Shanker states, "Nobody thought Emma Tropiano would be defeated, but she was – and now it is time to defeat David Howells and make sure that we only elect Progressive Democrats in the City of Allentown."

Hmmm. Did they just credit themselves for Emma Tropiano's defeat? They've taken no position concerning Julio Guridy.

with the exception of "kumbaya" donovan, i wouldn't necessarily classify any of our city councilmen or candidates as "progressive" . . . and i mean that in a good way. in today's fiscal environment, we need more conservative democrats.

Wouldn't it be wiser to wait until they know who all the candidates are? The last day to deliver the signatures to the county is more than a month away. This seems to be a bit early for an organization to be making its choices. Are the youth just exhibiting their classic, "I want it now", state of being? Suppose someone (else?)good decides to run and they have already made their decision? Are they going to reconsider when the slate is complete? Patience is wasted on the formerly youthful.

Mike and Mike have obviously told the liberally indoctrinated college Democrats exactly what they wanted to hear. The government will ride to the rescue; right the world’s wrongs, heal the sick, and punish the wicked. Oh if only it were so.To paraphrase Churchill, to be young and conservative is to have no heart; to be old and liberal is to have no brains. We can forgive the students for this youthful indiscretion.

What happens when these student leaders graduate (presumably they are not freshmen)? How concerned with Allentown politics will they be when they have moved on after college? It would be interesting to know where are these leaders from - New York or New Jersey, perhaps? Do they intend to stay in Allentown after college or perhaps take a job somewhere else?

Do they pay their own tuition, or does mom and dad? Are they on scholarship? Who provides the scholarship and what does it represent? What do they study? What are their grade-point averages? How can we be sure they know what they are talking about?

How many REAL jobs have they ever held? Have many REAL bills have they ever paid?

Why aren't they concerned that neither Geitner nor Daschle can not seem manage their own tax affairs but are going to be in great position to tell everyone else what to do?

"Do they pay their own tuition, or does mom and dad? Are they on scholarship? Who provides the scholarship and what does it represent? What do they study? What are their grade-point averages? How can we be sure they know what they are talking about?"

Mike S. was 'placed' at the Chamber as are some other Pol's. I pay dues am not happy with the direction Ianelli is taking sinc ehe has becime a big Cunningham supporter. Of course Mike S. was aCampaign worker for Cunnungham and bam he works for the Chamber.We do need people who actually have live a bit of life representing us.

Out of state students should not be allowed to vote in local elections. If they want their federal votes counted that is fine. But living here for 5 months and deciding who runs the community is asinine.

Having them vote is going to make it exactly like this past election when they showed up one buses, voted straight ticket and went home. They had no idea what the local pols stood for, just that they had a D next to their name. People wonder why we still have the electoral college...this is it.

Just for reference, the Muhlenberg Dems hold meetings all the time where they as local candidates to show up and talk to them about the issues they care about (like any other interest group). They try to find out what someone stands for instead of just voting for anyone they don't like. I know that quite a few did not just vote Party line. Also, they do have an interest in local races. It is to their benefit that the police, fire, and ems work. It is to their benefit that the water is clean and the streets are swept as they live in this community as well.

I've teased these folks with a picture of a drunken college student, but the truth is that I respect and admire young people who take an interest in their government. Unfortunatelty, when I was in college, you would have found me in that tub.

Getting to know people in local gov't made my life at Ursinus that much more rewarding. Telling college students to "butt out" of community matters sends the wrong message about responsibility and obligation to a community.

Disagree with the endorsement all you want but don't fault college students for caring about their community. We would be better off if other people showed similar interest.

College Students absolutely should vote in local elections - not only do local politics affect their lives for the four years they spend in college, but the results of those elections may very well determine whether or not they stay after college and start careers or buy homes locally or relocate elsewhere, and the future of their colleges also is closely connected to local politics.

It appears from their statement that the college students absolutely have a clear understanding of the issues that are more important to them as college students, and if anything they should be commended for taking the time to participate. The anon who commented that they would have been wise to wait until all candidates had submitted their signatures has a great point though.

Anyway, you don't have to agree with their choices - that's why the IronPigPen Committee to Bash College Students can endorse whoever YOU would like to see on city council and send out a press release.... equal opportunity man.

If they want to get involved there are food kitchens and homeless shelters that need volunteer help all of the time.

If they want to get involved they can help run a campaign or go to door to door. But having out of state kids from the West End of Allentown make decisions that affect the whole of the city is ridiculous. If I went to college in New Jersey and spent a majority of my time home in Allentown, I should not be voting on local New Jersey politics.

Now, if there are students who have moved here and pay local taxes and what not than sure. Let them vote. But bringing in the local college political group and busing them to voting centers is not getting involved, that's an agenda.

I would say the same thing about the Muhlenberg College Republicans, but from what I hear they don't exist.

And a personal statement does not speak of ALL the college students. I know for a fact that students had no idea what Sam Bennett stood for on election day, they were just told to vote straight ticket.

That is not getting involved in local politics to make a choice to live here. That is an agenda getting pushed through unknowing college kids. And on top of that, they are under the impression that anyone not a D is the enemy. Again, this is not beneficial for getting involved in local community action.

Equal opportunity exists for those who don't have the right, or for those who would otherwise get passed by. It does not exist so political agendas can get passed.

Taking them to participate, and caring about your community, would force them to question why they are voting for the people they are. Mass straight ticket voting is not getting involved, nor caring about your community, it's robot tactics.

Also your claim that there is not a Muhlenberg College Republicans group is invalid. A very quick search of the Student Organizations on muhlenberg's website reveals the following info on the College Republicans:

I have never read such condesending opinions about college students. If they are 18 (most are), they are adults. They enjoy ALL the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Where they chose to exercise it is entirely their choice. If you want to challenge that notion, you are challenging the very notion of citizenship and civic life. Telling somebody that you can volunteer at a food bank or only vote for president but you can't vote for city council (when that impacts your life more directly) is simply unAmerican.

You can stay or leave but excuse me if I don't vote for you based on a few years of drunken College life. Get over yourselves, things around here were alot better before we started electing all the transplant weenies.

Ok, I can't sit back and read about the MC Dems, their endorsements and voting behaviors, any longer. I worked the Allen High School votting poll for 13 straight hours this past election. I spoke o well over 600MC students during that time, specifically asking them about their thoughts on the "local" elections (Dent-Bennett)and (Mann-Welsh). For the most part (over 90%) had NO IDEA who any of the local candidates were or what their platforms were. I spent a great deal of my time educating the students that they DIDN'T have to vote a straight ticket, or could only vote in the presidential election if they so chose. The most disturbing moment was when I asked a member of the MC Young Dems (she was proudly wearing her MC Young Dem T shirt) if she knew what Jenn Mann's platform was - her answer was a resounding, "she's a democrat!" So, at MC they are teaching the students that a a party affiliation is a platform..impressive. I guess that's what they mean by LIBERAL arts. So much for these students knowing and being understanding of local elections. So, when I hear that the MC dems have endorsed someone it means absolutely nothing.

I may be wrong, but isn't it completely against polling place protocol to ask questions of voters? That seems infinitely inappropriate for a poll worker to be asking any questions of voters (aside from checking ID, signature, or if they need help with the machines).

LOLV - since this particular blog was was about Muhlenberg College students I only commented on the contact I had with college students. That might be a difficult concept for you to grasp.

But, since you ask, I did speak to a great many non-students as well. This population was fairly well schooled about the local politicians. Although, as can be expected, there were a few who had no idea about either party's non-presidential candidates. The point was, and remains, that a MUCH larger portion of the student population was unaware of the candidates outside of the presidency.

Anon 12:50 - you are completely wrong. It is not against polling place decorum to talk to the voters. If that was the case then Sam Bennett, hizzoner Ed Palowski,the local green shirt unions, and the 40-50 Obama volunteers (no exaggeration) who manned this polling place would have been out of line.

I suggest you take the time during an upcoming election to work a poll for the candidate of your choice and see how the process works before you go spouting off about policies. Remeber, also, these discussions are outside of the boundaries set forth by the constables as to where voters can/can't be approached.

Jamie Franks..no one said you had to go back to Sacramento to vote - that's exactly what absentee ballots are for. The point Mr Russo was making is that individuals who "live" in an area for 8 months out of the year for 1, 2, 3 or 4 years, in most cases, have much less at stake in the local political scene. Hence, generally speaking, there has been little or no homework done as to the views of these candidates (neither party is excluded). It's great that you voted, next time just use an absentee ballot and vote for your the candidates in your "home town". Hell, by voting in Allentown, you even missed out voting on Prop 8.

It's not new voters that should scare EVERYONE, it's uniformed voters. Local politics shouls not be taken lightly. In fact, local politicians, in many ways, have a greater say in your everyday living than national politicians.

Also, does placing an uninformed vote make you an adult? I think not. An adult decision on voting is based on research and understaning, not pulling a lever

Don't underestimate the desire of Muhlenberg Alums to stay in the Valley and become active in local politics.

I'm a friend and fellow alum of Mike Schlossberg (who by the way, for IRONPIGPEN, is originally from New Jersey), and I applaud his decision to stay involved in Allentown political life. He just recently bought a house on the West End and I know he is busting his butt making sure he's knocking on as many doors as possible to let people know who he is. I'm sure he has put in more effort than other councilmen/women who have came before him.

I'm also a good friend of Adrian Shanker (who is quoted in this post, and who is from New York), and I can proudly say he is not your typical Muhlenberg student. Is he too "liberal" (since when did that become a bad word?) for some people to swallow? Yes. But let's look at the most important thing he's done in his 4 years at Muhlenberg: HE WENT OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY. He knows pretty much every prominent member of the Allentown political scene and has created important networks. He's bridged the gap between the real Allentown and the Muhlenberg Bubble. If you asked him with Jennifer Mann or Mike D'Amore's platform was, he'd be able to go into it in-depth. He's done more in the past for year (in addition to being a full-time student) than many of us have done in a lifetime. There is no doubt in my mind that Adrian will want to make Allentown his permanent home after graduation as well.

So shame on you Allentown. You should be grateful to have these young men want to stay here and do the dirty work of making the LV a better place.